Not a great week for referees.

It seems to be a reoccurring theme but their were some disgusting (to quote a premier league manager) refereeing decisions this weekend.

After Michael Oliver showed some real bravery to give a penalty for Swansea against Stoke for a foul in the area by Shawcross on Bony whilst awaiting a corner, he then ruined all the good work of getting a decision spot on by giving a penalty for a dive in the opposing area later in the game which Swansea manager Gary Monk was rightly furious about when asked about it at the end of the game.  Yet again a poor refereeing decision has altered the game and Swansea who were 1-0  up to that point and in charge ended up losing 2-1.

If that was a poor piece of refereeing then the decision of Andre Mariner not to send off Southampton keeper Fraser Forster and award Sunderland a penalty, when the England keeper came rushing out of his goal and clattered Scottish striker Steven Fletcher, after the black cats forward had knocked the ball past the on rushing keeper was nothing but scandalous.  Mariner in his infinite wisdom gave a goal kick.  The score in this game at the time was 2-0 to the Saints, the final score was 8-0.  Would a sending off and penalty at that point made any difference to the outcome of the game?  Maybe, but one thing is for sure it wouldn't have ended 8-0 with the Saints down to 10 men.

All these pale into insignificance though as the worst decision of the weekend happened in league 1 in the Saturday evening game live on Sky between Bradford City and Sheffield United.  Referee Simon Hooper decided that Rory Mcardle's challenge on Stefan Scougal was a fair one and lets be fair he was only about 5 yards away.

http://youtu.be/Jek8YqV3P0w

Luckily for the Blades this didn't cost them as they run out 2-0 winners.

Anyway the referees involved in these decisions and all the other dodgy ones that I haven't mentioned this weekend won't face any recriminations for their actions, however Gary Monk will no doubt face a punishment after someone from the media stuck a microphone in his face straight after the game and he told the truth.  That's justice for you!  What a load of old bollocks!!

That's enough moaning lets get back to the football.


Chelsea and Manchester City continued their rampage at the top of the table and just behined in 3rd place is Southampton after their  8-0 win against Sunderland.  West Ham hit the dizzy heights of 4th place after their 3-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Sergio Aguero scored all four goals in City's 4-1 win over Spurs, in fact he should have had five as he missed a penalty and then managed to miss the rebound with an audacious scissor kick.  It looks like all his injury worries of last season and during the world cup are in the past and he is beginning to hit some irresistible form.

Scissor kick.

Chelsea march on even without Diego Costa as they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park 2-1 Fabregas scored the pick of the goals when he started and finished off a fantastic one touch passing move goal.

Southampton's new shining star Graziano Pelle scored a brace in their record breaking 8-0 win over Sunderland whilst 3 headed goals from Messrs Sakho, Valencia and Cole was enough for the happy Hammers at Burnley.

Alan Pardew kept his life support machine on for at least another week with Newcastle's first win of the season at home to Leicester.  Everton got a well overdue win against Villa and somehow a very poor Liverpool performance yielded 3 points at Loftus  Road against 'Arry's QPR.  Somehow the Reds came away with maximum points when even 1 would have been generous in this game.  Unfortunately for Redknapp and his much improved team their efforts were rewarded with absolutely nothing, however they should take heart from the performance and look to build on it.  Harry Redknapp in his after game match press conference said that his team were punished for their naivety he also eluded to the fact that Adel Tarabt was a fat lazy bastard who couldn't be arsed.  Those weren't his exact words but I think that was what he meant.

'Arry reckons he loves pies more.

Man United finished off this round of Premier league games with a trip to the Hawthorns.  It looked like it was going to be an uncomfortable night for the Red Devils when the Baggies took the lead through Stephane Sessegnon in the 8th minute.  It was a top finish after a great lay off from Liverpool loanee Andre Wisdom.

Man Utd Equalised early in the second half when Fellani  (remeber him) who had come on as sub scored his first goal for United after good show of strength and a very good finish.  Man Utd were on top in the second half but a breakaway lead to Berahino putting the home team ahead.  Daley Blind scored United's second equaliser and the points were shared.  I have to say that I was very impressed with WBA's style of football, a team I had as firm favourites to go down this season.  I reckon if they can carry on like this they will be a hard team to beat, especially at home.

Fellani was overjoyed to score his first Man Utd  goal.

In the Championship Watford went top of the table after a 3-0 away win at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday.  Forest slipped to a surprise defeat to Cardiff and dropped to 5th in the table.  Norwich also got a shock as they lost to Fulham.  Derby are second after their 3-0  win away to Reading and Middlesboro sit in 3rd after a 2-1 win over Brighton.  Blackpool stay bottom Bolton stay second bottom despite winning and Birmingham drop to 20th, Birmingham's latest defeat to Bolton was too much for the board and lee Clark lost his job as manager.

Lee Clark didn't take his dismissal from Birmingham very well.

League 1, and Bristol City stay at the top after an impressive 3-1 away win at Coventry, Peterborough stay second and Swindon despite drawing with Yeovil are in third.  Walsall, Port Vale, Scunthorpe and Crewe are the bottom 4.  In league 2 Wycombe are top of the league after a win against AFC Wimbledon, with Bury 2 points behined them, Burton stay 3rd despite a shock defeat at home to Morecambe, Luton are 4th and Tranmere are at the foot of the football league for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Goal of the week:

Southampton's first goal against Sunderland on Saturday.
Santiago Vergini hits an unstoppable curling volley in to the roof of the net, unfortunately for Vergini it was in his own net.  What a hit.

Have it!!